A friend recently told me that she was starting her own business and wanted to learn how to use social media to promote the new venture. I asked her if she already used Facebook to keep in touch with her friends and family. Of course, like most of us, she was a regular user. She was also a prolific tweeter and over the years had built up a significant network on Linkedin.

Mark Shaw, social media expert and author of the bestselling eBook, Twitter Your Business recently joined the Vocus UK team for a special webinar: Twitter – It’s Not Just About Cheese Sandwiches. Mark holds a belief that we at Vocus very much endorse. Twitter is more than just a broadcast station, it is a communication channel. Moreover, he believes that Twitter might just be the greatest lead generation tool ever invented (we are not arguing).

A friend asked me the other day if, in the past five years, I had ever been asked for my Twitter handle when buying a product. I laughed at the idea. It wasn’t the concept of asking your customers if they were on Twitter that I found so bizarre. In fact, it makes so much sense; I don’t know why you wouldn’t do it.

Are you one of those people who know they should be a lot more active on social media but struggle to find the right balance? Or perhaps you cannot justify spending any more time on social media when your previous efforts have delivered such little returns.